Before I Do Amazon (17 page)

"Nick."

The loud, booming voice of Thomas Hunter made Nick stand even straighter, and Isabella felt herself doing the same thing as if she, too, needed to square her shoulders and lift her chin and prepare for battle. This wasn't her fight, but she'd just declared herself as Nick's backup, so she needed to be ready.

"Dad," Nick said shortly. "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks for coming," Thomas said.

An awkward moment followed his words. The two men had made no move to physically connect with each other—no handshake, no hug, no slap on the back. The two feet of air between them couldn't be breached.

"Nicholas, how lovely that you could come." The woman standing next to Thomas didn't have the same reservations about touching. She came forward and extended her arms to Nick.

He let go of Isabella's hand to accept the woman's embrace, but he didn't really soften or smile. He was just being polite, she thought.

"Erica," he said. "You look beautiful as always."

"You're so sweet to say so."

Erica was a beautiful blonde with a stunningly pretty face. She was probably mid to late thirties. And it would have made more sense to see her with Nick than with his father, but obviously having a young, pretty girlfriend was part of Thomas Hunter's persona.

Erica stepped back and put her arm around Thomas's waist. "Your father and I were hoping you would come."

"Well, I'm here. This is Isabella Martinez—my father, Thomas Hunter, and his girlfriend, Erica Fox."

"It's nice to meet both of you, and Happy Birthday, Mr. Hunter," she added with a smile.

"Thank you," Thomas said. "Let's get you two some drinks." He motioned for a waiter. "Daniel will take care of you. Anything you want."

Isabella had a feeling that what Nick wanted was to be gone, but he did manage to order a gin and tonic from the waiter while she asked for a glass of wine.

"I have some people coming later that I want you to meet," Thomas said as the waiter left and Erica drifted away to speak to other friends. "David Adams from the Danforth Hedge Fund has an opportunity he wants to speak to you about. I think you should seriously consider it."

"I'm aware of his opportunity. I already told him I wasn't interested."

Thomas frowned. "How could you not be interested? The possibility of tremendous financial return is right in front of your face."

"It would require a larger investment than I'm willing to make right now. That money is earmarked for other ventures."

"You're not still talking about Argentina?"

"Plans are moving forward," Nick said evenly.

Isabella could see the strain in Thomas's eyes at that piece of news.

"It was a picture in a magazine that she liked, that's all it was, Nick. She never meant for you to build your whole life around it. I thought you would have figured that out by now. There's no room for sentiment in business."

"I'm going to buy the land in Argentina next week."

Thomas blew out an angry breath. "Well, fine, do it already. Then maybe you can move on."

"Like you have with Erica?" Nick bit out.

Isabella tensed, feeling the air grow thicker between them. They hadn't raised their voices, but their conversation was drawing the attention of some of the other guests, something she was sure that Nicholas would not want. It was time for backup.

"I'd love to see more of your beautiful home, Mr. Hunter," she interrupted. "Would it be possible to get a tour?"

He stared at her like she'd just asked him to show her the moon. Even Nick seemed bewildered by her sudden entrance into the conversation. She wasn't surprised. Their discussion hadn't really been about the land in Argentina but a lifetime of dissenting opinions and the inability to connect with each other.

"Of course," Thomas said finally. "I'd be happy to show you around.

"Great." She was thrilled that the waiter arrived at just that moment with her wine glass. "We'll be back," she told Nicholas.

"Take your time," he said shortly, draining his gin and tonic in one long swallow.

* * *

"There are three bedrooms and a den. This is the master suite," Thomas said as he led her into the massive and luxurious bedroom. One thing both father and son shared was a love for the finer things in life. "Erica did the decorating. That's how we met. She's an interior designer."

"She did an amazing job. I love the colors. So many people just use white. Or they pick off-white and think they're being adventurous."

He smiled, starting to relax. "Where did you meet my son, Isabella?"

"At my dance studio. I'm giving him tango lessons."

Thomas couldn't have looked more shocked. "Seriously?"

She nodded, not going into the reasons behind Nick's decision to learn the tango. "He'll be very good once he manages to loosen up and not worry about being perfect."

Thomas stared back at her. "He's talked to you about me, hasn't he?"

"A very little bit," she said honestly. "But I can see there's tension."

"That's putting it mildly." Thomas paused. "Is he unhappy that I'm with Erica?"

"He never mentioned her to me."

"I know she's a lot younger than I am, and most people think she's some sort of a trophy, but the truth is she just makes me feel like there's more to life. I like her positive attitude. She has so much self-confidence. I never have to worry about having to constantly pump her up, make her feel worthy. That can be exhausting."

She had the feeling he was talking about Nick's mother now.

"Are you and Nick serious about each other?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"Oh, no. We're just—friends."

"Too bad. You seem like a smart woman."

"How would you know that?"

"You separated us before we could make a scene or throw a punch at the other." He gave her a dry smile. "We've never gotten along. I try to help Nick, but he wants nothing to do with me."

"Maybe you should stop trying to help him and just be his father."

"What kind of father doesn't try to help his kid?"

"I don't know. I'm not the expert on fathers. My dad wasn't even around when I was growing up. But I will say this. I think the fact that Nick is here shows there's hope for a better relationship—if you both decide you want to try for that."

"I hate to see him make mistakes because he's trying to make something up to his mother. She wouldn't have wanted him to do what he's done."

"Be successful?" Isabella challenged. "She wouldn't have wanted that?"

"She wouldn't have wanted him to chase a foolish dream she had one day sixteen years ago."

"I don't know if the dream was foolish or if Nick is still chasing it, but from what I can see of his business, it's not just about his mother's dream vacation spot. He's built a successful chain of hotels. He's young to have accomplished all that he has. And if you want my opinion—"

"I have a feeling you're going to give it to me even if I don’t want it."

"I do have a tendency to butt in," she admitted.

"What's your opinion?"

"Nick takes after you, not his mom. He may have taken a different path, but if you really look, I think you'll see that your son is more like you than even he wants to be."

Thomas grinned. "I know he sure as hell doesn't
want
to be like me. I like you, Isabella. I hope you stick around, and I'm not just talking about the party."

She was saved from answering by Erica's appearance in the bedroom. The younger woman gave them both a somewhat suspicious look.

"I thought you two got lost," she said, putting a possessive arm around Thomas. "Nick is looking for you, Isabella."

"Thanks for showing me around, Mr. Hunter."

"Please call me Thomas."

"I will. I'd better find Nick."

She was on her way back to the party in the living room when she saw Nick standing by the window in the den. He was gazing out at the view, and there was something about his hard profile that made her heart turn over. She knew now that the hardness was a cover for a kind, loving and loyal heart. But Nick rarely let down that cover.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked.

He jolted at her words, then turned his head. "Taking a break. I didn't think the apartment was that big. You've been gone a long time."

"I was talking to your dad."

"About what?"

"You."

He frowned. "You could have at least tried to pretend I wasn't the topic."

"Since you're pretty much the only thing your dad and I have in common, I didn't think you'd believe me." She paused for a moment. "He loves you, Nick."

Nick immediately shook his head. "He loves his idea of me, not who I really am."

"I don't think you show him who you really are."

"I used to. It didn't go well. It doesn't matter. I'm not going to change his mind about me, and he's not going to change my mind about him. Coming here was a mistake."

"No, it wasn't. You have to keep trying."

Nick gave her a sharp, warning look. "Isabella, you can't fix us, no matter how hard you try. Our relationship broke decades ago."

"Your mom was a bridge between you two, and when she died, you lost your bridge. But maybe someone else could help connect you."

"Someone like you?"

"Or Erica, or one of your other friends. I'm just saying I think you could have a relationship if you could find your way out of the past, forgive each other for some of the disappointments."

"I don't need a relationship with my father."

"Don't you? I wouldn't say anything if I thought you were happy with the way things are between you, but you're not. And we're here in your father's house. So why not talk to him?"

"I already spoke with him. He's trying to get me to make an investment I don't want to make."

"So don't talk business."

"We have nothing else in common."

She wondered if that were really true.

"I don't want to talk about him anymore."

"Then let's mingle."

His expression filled with distaste, and she couldn't help but laugh. "It is a party, Nick. That's what you do. There must be someone here you'd like to talk to."

"I'm talking to her," he said, gazing into her eyes. "Let's get out of here."

"After we get some food, I'm hungry."

"I'll buy you dinner anywhere you want."

"There's a beautiful buffet in the next room. We're here, Nick. Let's give it thirty minutes before we bail."

"I thought you had my back."

"I do. I'll be right behind you. Trust me, Nick. It's going to be fine. You might even have fun."

Chapter Fourteen

An hour later, Nick was actually glad that Isabella had encouraged him to stay at the party. Two cousins, twins Kari and Mick that he hadn't seen in at least eight or nine years, showed up, and it was fun to catch up with them. Their mother was his father's younger sister, Deirdre, and she'd always been a lot more fun than his dad. But Deirdre had moved to Arizona years ago, and her kids had gone with her. Apparently both had decided to come back and live in San Francisco.

Kari was working as a flight attendant and Mick as an architect. They were both funny and outgoing and reminded him of a time in his life, long before his mom had gotten sick, and his parents' marriage had gone sour, when he and his cousins had just enjoyed each other's company on family vacations and holidays.

Isabella fit right in with the group, too. She was the kind of person who could always find a friend. She was warm and interested in whatever anyone was saying, and most importantly, her interest was genuine. She liked getting to know new people, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd thought about trying to make a new friend. Not that he had time for friends. Business partners and coworkers fit his crazy lifestyle, but those relationships never went beneath the surface. He'd thought that's what he liked about those relationships, but now he felt like he'd been missing something.

It was Isabella who was making him rethink his life, he thought with a frown. He'd hired her to give him tango lessons, but now she was getting entangled in every other part of his life. It was probably good they wouldn't see each other after Argentina.

But even in his head that thought didn't sound good at all. He wanted to keep seeing her, but could he fit her into his life?

Could he fit into hers?

Of course they could both do what they needed to do—if they wanted to.

He was beginning to realize just how much he wanted to keep her in his life.

"This cake is amazing," Isabella said, giving him a big smile. She held up the dessert plate in her hand. "Do you want a bite?"

"No, I'm good."

"Okay, more for me." She finished the cake in two more bites and put the plate down on a nearby table. "Are you ready to leave?"

"I am."

"You lasted longer than I thought you would."

"It was fun to see Mick and Kari again."

"Yes, I didn't realize you had cousins. I thought your family was just your dad and you."

"My dad has three siblings, and I have ten cousins, but we're all spread out now, so we rarely see each other."

"It was good you came tonight. Shall we say goodbye to your dad?"

Nick saw his father in the middle of a conversation with two of his friends and decided to give that a pass. While they hadn't spoken since he'd first arrived at the party, he knew that his father was aware that he'd stayed, and that was good enough. "Let's just slip out. Mick and Kari already left. There's no one else I need to say goodbye to."

They made their way down to the parking garage in silence, not speaking until they were back in the car.

"Shall I take you home?" he asked halfheartedly, not really wanting the night to be over.

"I was thinking maybe we should stop by the hotel and run the tango a few times before you take me home. It's not far from here."

That was the last thing he wanted to do, but how could he say no? They were leaving for Argentina in two days, and he still didn't know the dance. "All right. I guess we should do that."

A knowing smile flitted across her mouth. "I love your enthusiasm."